Stiffener support for shoe soles



Sept. 10, 1963 A. F. PAULDING 3,103,075

STIFFENER SUPPORT FOR SHOE SOLES Filed July 6, 1961 Fig. 3 Fig 4 54 56 I A L A lber/ FI Pau/d/ng INVENTOR. 1 v 58 l BY United States Patent 3,103,075 STIFFENER SUPPORT FOR SHOE SOLES Albert F. Paulding, Whitman, Mass. (20 Sheridan St., Brockton, Mass.) Filed July 6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,327 11 Claims. (ill. 36-76) This invention comprises a novel and useful stiffener support for shoe soles and more particularly relates to a stiffening element and a foot support adapted to be incorporated into the sole structure :of a shoe.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior co-pending application, Serial No. 56,386, filed September 16, 1960, for a stiffener Support for Shoe Soles, now abandoned, and discloses an improvement of the invention set forth in my aboveidentified copending application.

The stiffener support in accordance with this invention consists of a stiffening element and foot support in the form of a thin, plate-like element of a resilient nature which is adapted to be disposed between the inner and outer soles of the shoes at the rearward portion thereof and particularly in the shank of the shoe and above the heel thereof in order to reinforce and stiffen the construction of the shoes, to furnish support for the arch of the foot and to impart a constant yielding bias in a direction which is transversely of the length of the shoe in order to cause the shoe to track properly during Walking and prevent running over of the heel and of the sole portion thereof.

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide an insert member adapted to be incorporated into the sole structure of a shoe, of either mens or Womens shoes, and which will provide in the shoe a built-in reinforcing and stiffening element for the shank of the shoe and a permanent arch support for the foot of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the foregoing object which will cause or tend to cause the shoe to tread more evenly :or naturally in that the plane of the bottom of the shoe heel and sole will lie perfectly upon the ground during the load bearing position of the shoe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects which will provide a means for controlling a shoe to prevent its tendency to get out of alignment and which will avoid the tendency of the inner edge of the sole and the heel striking the ground first as usually occurs in conventional shoe structures and which tendency results in the heel and sole wearing first at the outer edges and tending to twist to the outer edge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the foregoing objects which will tend to prevent shoes from gaping open at the ankles by virtue of applying a resilient arching effect to the heel and arch portion or shank of the shoe for stiffening the same.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an insert member of a light but generally rigid material but aving sufficient springiness or resiliency thereto to impart an inherent bias to the sole structure with which it is associated and which may bereadily inselted into the space between the inner and outer soles and which will serve to stiffen the heel and arch portion of the shoe sole.

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A further object of the invention is to provide a stiffening insert in accordance with the preceding object which will be disposed in a males shoe between the breakline of the shoe Where the welt stops and will extend to the rearward portion of the heel structure and may be secured to the shoe sole in a simple manner as by the use of various cements, or the provision of fastenors of different types at the heel portion of the shoe.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stiffening element insert for shoe soles which shall be of a relatively flat, thin, one-piece construction, relatively inexpensive, but having an inherent resiliency and which may be readily and easily applied to the shoe cons structions of both men and women.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an elongated longitudinally bowed stiffening element for the shank portions \Of shoes in which the material of the element shall have a lateral twist about its longitudinal :axis and will have inherent resiliency so as to resiliently twist or bias the sole portion of the shoe about its longitudinal axis in a direction to counteract the tendency of the shoe to strike the ground first at the inside edge of the shoe thereby overcoming the normal tendency to produce uneven wearing of the shoe sole and heel at the outside edge thereof.

And a final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the provision of a stiffener element for shoe soles in accordance with the foregoing objects which shall be constructed in a relatively small number of uniform size ranges in order to accommodate substantially the entire range of sizes and shapes of the sole portions of footwear.

'Ilhese together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described, and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings form-mg a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughotut, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the preferred form of shank stiffener in accordance with this invention, the illustrated structure being for use with the right foot;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stiffener of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a end view of the heel end of the stiffener of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end view from the toe end of the stiffener of FIGURE 1;

, FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of an outsole with the stiffener of FIGURE 1 in place therein; and

FIGURE 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view comparing in a front end view the relative positions during walking of a conventional shoe sole and of a shoe sole having the stiffener of this invention applied thereto.

In walking with the conventional construction of shoe the heel of the right foot first engages the ground and thereafter, owing to the inclination of the foot from the line of travel, the left edge of the sole strikes the ground at the inside of the break line of the shoe and the back end of the heel then slightly lifts. Thereafter, as the weight of the body is placed upon the foot the pressure travels across the break line from the inside edge of the sole across toward the right to the outside edge thereof, and then travels from the outside edge of the break line toward the center of the toe end of the shoe 3 across the ball of the shoe. As a result of this action there is a well-known and pronounced tendency for uneven Wear to occur upon the sole structure of the shoe so that the outside edge of the heel and sole of the shoe are rapidly and excessively worn.

The present invention provides a means and a method for overcoming this condition by applying an initial permanent resilient twist or lateral distortion of the shoe sole about its longitudinal axis through a small but sufficient extent to thereby cause after the initial engagement of the heel with the ground, an initial engagement of the sole with the ground at the outside end of the break line, with the weight of the foot then applying pressure which travels across the ball of the sole towards the inside and then toward the center of the toe portion. As a result of this initial lateral twisting or dis-tortion of the sole, there is obtained a uniform and even wear of the heel and sole thereby greatly prolonging the life of the shoe sole structure.

The means provided for effecting this correction of an existing detrimental condition conventional to the usual types of footwear comprises an insert element which is introduced into the sole structure of a shoe and which not only provides the above-mentioned lateral twisting or distortion of theshoe sole but also constitutes a resilient support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, resiliently maintains the shoe shank in an upwardly bowed condition thereby maintaining a snug fit of the shoe at the ankles and further supporting and maintaining the arch of the foot in its normal and proper condition.

Referring first to FIGURE 5, it will be observed that the numeral designates in top plan a conventional outsole of a shoe, that indicated being of a right foot. In this view the insole is removed and it will be observed that this outsole has a heel portion 12, a shank portion 14 and a forward portion 16 constituting the ball and toe portions thereof. It will be understood that the outsole 10 may be of the usual configuration and materials, it

being an important feature and advantage of this invention that the stiffener element may be applied to conventional shoe soles.

There is recessed into the top surface of the shoe sole 10 a slight cavity or recess 18 which is of similar contour to the periphery of the shoe sole and which serves toprovide a space in which is received the stiffener element indicated generally by the numeral 20 of this invention. In the forward portion of the cavity that is, between the stiffener element and the toe portion of the shoe there is provided the usual filler material, not shown, so that the finished inside surface of the shoe sole structure may be smooth in accordance with conventional practice.

' Referring still to the somewhat diagrammatic and plan View of FIGURE 5, the center of the heel portion 12 of the shoe sole as designated by the numeral 22 may be considered as that point at which the heel is placed upon the ground during the operation of Walking. As shown by the dotted line 24, in the normal operation of walking with conventional shoes as set forth above, the pressure of the foot and the weight of the body is applied to the foot and the shoe sole from the point 22 along the line indicated at 24 until the sole 10 initially contacts the ground at the point 26 which is located at the inside edge of the shoe sole and is closely adjacent to the shoe sole break line indicated by the dotted line 28. From the position 26, the weight of the body then moves along the line from 26 across the break line as shown by the dotted line 28 to the outside edge of the sole, thence along the line indicated by the numeral 36 until it reaches the position 32 which is upon the longitudinal axis of the shoeand foot and at the forward or toe portion of the shoe sole.

However, when the stiffener of this invention is applied, its effect is to laterally twist or distort or rotate the shank and ball and toe portion of the sole with 4 reference to the heel of the shoe transverse about the longitudinal axis of the shoe so as to cause the shoe sole to initially engage the ground at the position 34 which is at the break line 28 of the shoe but at the outside edge thereof. Thereafter, continued forward shifting of the Weight of the body upon the foot causes the pressure engagement of the shoe sole on the ground to move from the position 34 across the break line to the inside edge thereof and thence forward along the line 30 to the position 32.

FIGURE 6 will assist in understanding the difference between the conventional shoe sole and a shoe sole structure in accordance with this invention. Thus, as shown at A and B respectively there is illustrated for a comparison a front end view from the top portion of a conventional shoe sole structure and the shoe sole structure having therein the stiffener 20 of this invention. In both constructions, in the initial portion of a walking op eration, the shoe heel 12 rests flat upon the ground which is represented by the line 40. However, while in the conventional shoe structure the inside edge of the shoe sole initially strikes the ground at the position 26, in the shoe structure in accordance with this invention it is the outside edge of the shoe sole which strikes the ground at the position 34, or exactly the reverse of the usual and conventional construction. The arrows 41 and 43 in dicate the direction of travel of the load upon the shoe sole after this initial engagement of the shoe sole at the break line with the ground. Thus, as shown at 41, in the conventional shoe sole construction, the line of thrust of the shoe sole against the ground travels from the inside edge 26 to the outside edge, whereas shown at 43, for the shoe sole in accordance with this invention it travels from the outside edge toward the inside edge or just the reverse operation as that for the conventional shoe sole.

Reference is now made more particularly to FIGURES 1-4 for an understanding of the novel structure and characteristics of the stiffener element insert in accordance with this invention. The stiffener element 20 comprises a unitary elongated strip or piece of sheet material of any suitable material which will provide sufiicient strength, rigidity and springiness, resiliency or elasticity or flexibility as required. Conveniently, tempered steel is ideally suited for this purpose but other materials could be satisfactorily employed taking into account the characteristics above mentioned and as set forth hereinafter.

In the embodiment illustrated the stiffener 20 is considered as being constituted by a single sheet of tempered steel of appropriate thickness. The stiffener consists of a rear or heel portion 44 from the forward end of which extends a shank portion 46. The heel portion 44 is of uniform width throughout its length except that its rear end is appropriately rounded as at 48 in order to conform to the rear contour of the heel 12 of the shoe sole and to the contour of the recess 18 at the rear- Ward end thereof. In addition to being of uniform width throughout its length, the heel portion is flat or planar so that the same will seat securely and stably upon the bottom of the recess at the heel portion of the sole. In a typical standard size and proportion range, the overall stiffener 20 may be five and one-half inches in length with the heel portion 44 being two and one-quarter inches in length. Thus the shank portion 46 is three and one-quarter inches in length. It may be here noted that it is intended to provide stiffeners in three different sizes, which are capable of conforming to substantially all sizes of mens shoes.

The shank portion 46 forwardly of the heel portion 44 of the stiffener is along its longitudinal extent upwardly bowed as shown in FIGURE 2 in a contour which will cause it to snugly conform to the normal contour of the sole of a foot along the longitudinal arch thereof, whereby the inherent resiliency of the shank portion will resiliently support the arch of the toot and maintain it in its normal arched condition. In addition to being curved longitudinally, the shank portion is also dished or curved transversely so that its top surface is transversely concave as indicated at 50 in FIGURES 3 and 4. As a result of this transverse dishing of the shank portion the, latter is provided with a pair of longitudinal ribs or edges 52 and 54 at the inside and outside edges of the shank. The purpose and efiect of these two edges 52 and 54' is to provide stability for and to cradle the seating of the foot arch in the shoe.

At its forward end, the shank 46 is provided with a forward edge 56 which latter is slightly curved or rounded and which is disposed generally parallel to the break line when the stifiener is placed in the shoe as shown in FIGURE 5. The two ends of this forward edge 56 are slightly rounded to merge into the side edges of the stiffener as will be apparent from FIGURES 1 and 5.

It will iurther be noted that [from its junction with the heel portion 44, the shank 46 has its side edges laterally divergent as they progress toward the (front edge 56, and the side edges 52 and 54 and the front portion of the shank 46 have a laterally projecting end portion 58 which extends substantially across the recess or cavity 18 adjacent the break line. This relationship will be more readily apparent from FIGURE 5.

As previously mentioned, the stiffener is of spring steel or similar material and has both upward and torsional elasticity for resiliency. The shank portion of the stiffener is permanently distorted or twisted about its longitudinal axis to a slight extent as indicated in FIG- URES 24. As a result of this distortion, the plane joining the lateral proection 58 at one end of the front edge 56 and the lateral projection 60 at the other end of the front edge is angularly inclined with respect to the reference plane indicated by the line 62 and which latter reference plane is parallel to that of the surface of [the heel portion 44. As a result thereof, the edge 52 will lie slightly above the edge 54 as shown in FIG- URE 2 and also as diagrammatically indicated in FIG- URES 3 and 4 by a distance indicated by the numeral 64 and as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4. This difference is preferably about one-eighth of an inch. As a result of this twisting of the shank and sole portion of the shoe sole, there occurs the previously mentioned reversal of the operation diagrammatically indicated in FIGURE 6 and previously referred to.

The amount of this lateral distortion or twist about the longitudinal axis of the shank and therefore of the sole structure about the longitudinal axis of the shoe sole to which the stiffener is attached, produces a sufficient tilting of [the plane of the bottom surface of the shoe sole to effect the desired previously mentioned operation and performance of the shoe sole. Consequently, there results a correction of the normal condition of which a shoe sole structure is run down and excessively worn at the outside edge so that by actual test extending through a long period of life of the shoe, uniform and equal Wear occurs upon both outside and inside edges of the shoe sole and of the heel of the shoe.

The stiffener of this invention may be readily secured in the shoe sole in any suitable manner. Thus, a suitable adhesive cement may be employed. Alternatively, [fasteners may be secured through the apertures 70 of the heel portion 44 of the stiffener. Alternatively downwardly struck tabs or lugs 72 on the side edges of the heel portion of the shoe may be formed to penetrate into the heel portion 12 of the sole and thus firmly anchor the fiat heel portion 44 of the stifiener against the flat surface of the heel portion of the sole. In any event, the llat heel portion 44 of the stiffener may be considered as firmly anchored to the heel in a plane which is parallel to the bottom surface of the heel and to the [ground upon which the heel rests. The inherent previously mentioned lateral twisting or distortion of the shank 46 of the stiffener represents a slight angular displacement with respect to the plane of the heel portion 44, this displacement being indicated as to its extent by the numeral 64 in FIGURES 3 and 4.

As previously mentioned, the shank portion extending iorwardly from the heel portion 44 of the stiffener is longitudinally upwardly bowed. This bowing eflieot can be slightly varied upwardly or downwardly at its junction with respect to the shoe heel in order to provide a slightly higher or slightly lower arch support as may be desired.

In operation, this stiffener and the shoe construction including the same is efiected to greatly increase the useful life of the heel and sole structure of a shoe; to insure a much snugger fit of the shoe about the ankle of the wearer; to provide a resilient support for the foot arch thereby maintaining the arch in its normal healthy condition or to some extent tending to correct slight defects owing to inadequate arch strength.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wear resistant and corrective shoe sole construction including a shoe outer sole having heel, shank and toe portions, an elongated shank stiffener having heel, central and forward portions fixedly secured to said sole at the heel, shank and at the breakline of the toe portions respectively, said stiffener comprising an elongated strip of a transversely flexible material of less width than said sole, said strip having between its ends a permanent, resilient and laterally twisted distortion about its longitudinal axis which is of sufiicient magnitude and in a direction to effect a normally pre-set but resiliently yieldable laterally twisted distortion of said sole about its longitudinal axis and in a direction causing initial engagement of the sole at its outer edge with the ground during walking.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the forward portion of said stiffener terminates closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the breakline of said toe portion.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stilfener is longitudinally upwardly bowed at its central portion sufficiently to conform to and resiliently support the longitudinal arch of the foot.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stiffener is concave transversely of its top surface whereby to provide a seat conforming to and receiving the bottom of the foot.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stifiener has its front edge slightly forwardly and convexly curved and terminated at the sole break line.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said front edge has a laterally projecting portion at the inside edge of the sole, said laterally projecting portion being spaced at a dilferent distance from the plane through the heel portion of the stifiener than the outer end of said front edge.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the heel portion of said stiffener is seated in and extends rearwardly of the center of the heel portion of said sole.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the rear portion of said stifiener is seated in and extends rearwardly of the center of the heel portion of said sole, the rear portion of said stiffener being planar.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said stiffener forwardly of said rear portion thereof is longitudinally upwardly bowed and is transversely dished upon its top surface.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stifien'er has a planar rear portion, and a shank portion which is longitudinally upwardly bowed and contoured to support the [arch of the foot, and is transversely twisted about. its longitudinal axis, and has a front edge terminating at the sole break line and generally parallel thereto, and having a laterally projecting portion at the inner side of the sole and at the front edge of said stiffener.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stiifener has a planar rear portion, which is of uniform width throughout its length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Delbon Dec. 24, l1907 Marshall Jan. 4, 1927 Brown Aug. 9, 1927 Stark June 16, 1931 Bartels Aug. 11, 1931 Daniels June 6, 1950 

1. A WEAR RESISTANT AND CORRECTIVE SHOE SOLE CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A SHOE OUTER SOLE HAVING HEEL, SHANK AND TOE PORTIONS, AN ELONGATED SHANK STIFFENER HAVING HEEL, CENTRAL AND FORWARD PORTIONS FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID SOLE AT THE HEEL, SHANK AND AT THE BREAKLINE OF THE TOE PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY, SAID STIFFENER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRIP OF A TRANSVERSELY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL OF LESS WIDTH THAN SAID SOLE, SAID STRIP HAVING BETWEEN ITS ENDS A PERMANENT, RESILIENT AND LATERALLY TWISTED DISTORTION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS WHICH IS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND IN A DIRECTION TO EFFECT A NORMALLY PRE-SET BUT RESILIENTLY YIELDABLE LATERALLY TWISTED DISTORTION OF SAID SOLE ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND IN A DIRECTION CAUSING INITIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE SOLE AT ITS OUTER EDGE WITH THE GROUND DURING WALKING. 